10 August 2017

News Story: President urges 'complete' overhaul of military for enhanced defense capabilities

SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in called for a complete and thorough overhaul of the country's armed services Wednesday, highlighting an "urgent" need to enhance the country's defense capabilities against North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile technologies.

"I believe we might need a complete defense reform at the level of a rebirth instead of making some improvements or modifications," the president said while meeting with six new top commanders of the three armed services in a promotion ceremony held at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.

"I believe another task now facing us is the urgent task of securing defense capabilities to counter North Korea's nuclear and missile provocations," he added, according to Cheong Wa Dae pool reports.

Moon's remarks came amid escalating tension caused by the communist state's recent missile launches and a fresh threat, filed earlier in the day by the North Korean military, to strike near U.S.-controlled Guam with a barrage of missiles.